Bill Dorman

Vice President & News Director

Bill Dorman

Bill Dorman has been the news director of Hawai‘i Public Radio since February 2011. Born in New York City, he spent 21 years at CNN in various positions behind the scenes and on the air in Atlanta, New York, Washington DC, and Tokyo, Japan. He was also managing editor of Asia Pacific Broadcast for Bloomberg News for five years before moving to Hawai‘i in 2009. He’s covered stories from more than twenty countries and territories.

Thailand has now been under military rule for four years. Several hundred protestors marked that anniversary yesterday in Bangkok—but the police had an even bigger presence. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There has been lots of reaction in recent days to trade talks between the United States and China. But much less attention is being paid to another diplomatic mission from China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Coral reefs are a focus for many scientists here in Hawai‘i and around the world. A new government study of Japan’s largest coral reef confirms what scientists have been saying. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Malaysia has had one of the most dramatic shifts of leadership since the nation’s creation. While the new administration will take some time to put together, authorities are wasting no time investigating the former prime minister. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A little more than an hour’s flight from Hong Kong is a tropical island that likes to market itself as “China’s Hawai‘i.” But unlike Hawai‘i, this location is looking for a population explosion. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

When trade winds slow, it’s a time for air conditioning for many people in the islands. While demand for air conditioning rises along with temperatures, that demand is growing around the world — including in Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

We’re about a month away from President Trump’s scheduled meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. While residents in South Korea are closely watching developments, a survey shows they also have some surprising attitudes when it comes to their neighbors to the north. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Tax cuts for corporations and some individuals — and a slower pace on renewable energy. It’s not the Trump Administration agenda; it’s some of the news from the budget proposed by the government of Australia. But there’s also a debate about a figure who is well known in Hawai‘i. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s been two weeks since the Philippines government closed one of its most popular tourist destinations. The reason was to clean up pollution — and despite the lack of visitors, the island is very busy. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This is election day in Malaysia. The Prime Minister is facing one of the biggest challenges of his political career, while voters go to the polls for national and state elections. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Several top officials in the Trump Administration will be heading to China next week to talk about trade. The group will be led by Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and will include the head of the National Economic Council, Larry Kudlow, as well as the U.S. Trade Representative. While no breakthroughs are expected, some of the challenges are clear. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A diplomatic dispute between the Philippines and Kuwait has escalated to another level this week. It’s a case that focuses on the treatment of foreign workers in the Persian Gulf nation. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

President Trump is not the only world leader dealing with a changing cabinet. The leader of Singapore has announced a series of moves of that are drawing attention from outside the country. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The leaders of North and South Korea are scheduled to meet this Friday at the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two countries. Both countries are scrambling with last minute preparations this week—but in different ways. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Pedestrian safety is a concern for anyone who lives in a city. In Honolulu, it’s been about six months since a law took effect banning texting in crosswalks. The city also has periodic crackdowns on jaywalking. But in China, several cities are trying some new methods to deal with this old problem. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A project deadline for a major urban rail project has been delayed—again. But this has nothing to do with Honolulu’s rail. This construction would connect two major urban centers in Southeast Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The top career official in Japan’s Ministry of Finance has resigned over allegations of sexual harassment. But the official is still contending that he has done nothing wrong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

China is starting to crack open its market a little further to foreign automakers. The Beijing government announced this week that it will phase out requirements for outside companies to have local partners. But undoing some of those long-standing agreements may not make immediate business sense for the foreign companies. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Investigators in Singapore have uncovered what they call a “highly sophisticated” cheating scandal involving standardized school tests. The case involves allegations of a network of organizers and half a dozen clients. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The western side of the Big Island of Hawai‘i is getting some extra attention this week at an unlikely location. Kona is making headlines in South Korea—but not for reasons you might expect. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The Trump Administration has proposed a number of policy changes when it comes to offshore leases for oil and gas exploration and drilling. This week, New Zealand announced that it is taking a dramatically different approach to the same issue. HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

Election Day is approaching in a country where the leader is lashing out against what he calls “fake news.” He’s also calling to make his country “great.” The themes may sound familiar, but the country is far from U.S. shores. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

One of the most popular island destinations in Asia is closing its beaches. And its airports. The plan is to shut down the island to visitors for six months, and it’s already causing disruptions not only on the island but also thousands of miles away. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i’s state legislature is in recess today, but a number of bills will be returning for consideration and discussion later this week. One issue that is NOT going anywhere this session is casino gambling. But on that topic, it’s a very different story in Japan. HPR’s Bill Dorman has it in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s a city on the water, where tourism plays an important role and housing costs have spiraled beyond affordability for many residents. But government officials are floating new ideas to deal with the housing crisis. The city is not Honolulu, but Hong Kong. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.